My daughter, God and I love her so, has always been a special child. Special in great ways and special in the fact that she doesn't socialize with her own age group. She can converse and be friends with adults, babysit children, but has no close friends her own age. It has always been this way, from when she was in pre-school, first grade and into middle school. Middle school is tougher though. Kids can, and will be cruel. So Hannah wanted out. She wanted to home school, she wrote a letter to my boss asking for office space so she can be near me and attend to her schooling online at the same time.
That is not an option.
So we struggled with this, her strong academic skills and work ethic with her less-than-stellar peer group social skills. Starting the school year is always hard but this year it was tougher. Tears weeks before school started, tears at night, long talks with her pleading "please help me daddy!"
So what do I do?
I prayed about this at devotions at work, I spoke with other people. I even spoke to my sister, Kathy about it. The result - we were going to find the money somewhere and get her in a small, Christian school. I don't have the funds but somehow we would have to do it. So we scheduled a meeting with a local school and we were going to tell Hannah that we are looking at this option as we have to be interviewed, with her present.
So this week, as Hannah is crying in her bed at night, I tell her that she just can't sit at a lunch table alone and look so down. She has to finish her lunch, walk tall, put a smile on her face and walk around. Ask kids questions, just don't sit there and look mopey! And one more thing, I said pray as you walk, pray that God would deliver a smile to a face, that He would give her more confidence. I told Hannah that I suffer the same way and that God WILL show up, somehow, somewhere in this problem. I was sure of it. I almost guaranteed it. He has showed up in my life. Just pray as you walk and He WILL show up, somehow. in some way.
Then I thought, "What have I done?" What if God wants to wait? Have I asked too much, promised His arrival in a specific area, in a specific time?
So I was at Devotions (11:30 every day at Open Doors) and told most of the story but not of my promise to Hannah. Most people know Hannah at Open Doors as she has volunteered here. Many came over after and said they'd pray for confidence or that one person would come befriend Hannah. That has been my most fervent prayer; that one little girl would take God's urging and befriend Hannah.
So many prayed. Fervently. In tears I told this story.
And God showed up.
For over 360 days in middle school, Hannah ate alone, but that day, two little girls came over to Hannah, and asked her to have lunch with them.
God showed up.
But I didn't know that. So after school, we discussed with Hannah that we were looking at other schools. She said she wanted to stay at San Elijo Middle School. After a pause, she told us the story.
I had meetings this weekend with our board at Open Doors and had the opportunity to spend time with Roger Spoelman. He plays a game with his children where they play "I Spy" but they play it with God. They ask, “Where did you see God today?” You see, Roger realized early on that if you start looking at a certain car, maybe a Mini Cooper, you will suddenly see more on the freeway. You don't will them to appear, you notice them more. Your brain gets acclimated to seeking and finding that object. Hannah realized that many years ago as a little girl.
She even told me about this phenomenon.
So I asked Hannah, was this God answering the prayers of many who hold you dear and pray for you, and God showing up like we talked about? Was this an "I Spy" moment? Or was it just a coincidence?
Hannah said she thought it was a coincidence.
God is still working on her. I am too.
Keep praying because He shows up. I have seen it. I have proof.
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